10 Jan 11 2010 NBA Trade Deadline Report Cards

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesFor the first time in recent memory, the NBA trading deadline lived up to all the hype.The perceived big catch of the this season's deadline, Amar'e Stoudamire, surprisingly ended up staying in Phoenix for the remainder of this season, but there were plenty of other moves that made headlines prior to Thursday afternoon.It seemed as if no player was safe, as there was promising youngsters, former all stars, savvy veterans, and some of the biggest names in the sport the past few year changing teams after the dust had cleared. Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
So who were the biggest trade deadline winners and losers? Did your team improve for this year, clear cap room for next season,or both? Or did your favorite team totally blow it on Thursday?Each team involved in the trading frenzy the past few days will be graded here. Grades will be given based on how the moves effect the team for the long and short term. In other words, how does you team's moves affect the remainder of this season, as well as upcoming seasons.With that said, here are the 2010 NBA trade deadline report cards.Cleveland Cavaliers, A+Originally, the Cavs were rumored to be close to getting Amar'e Stoudamire from the Suns, but when Phoenix proved indecisive and wanted to wait until the last possible minute to make a decision on Stoudamire's future, Cleveland looked elsewhere.The Cavs ended up landing Washington Wizards' forward Antawn Jamison. Stoudamire is a better player, but the result may actually be a better fit, and and allowed Cleveland to keep JJ Hickson.The move only cost Cleveland Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who more-than-likely will be bought out and then rejoin the Cavs after 30 days and a 2010 first-round draft pick.Having Stoudamire down low with Shaq didn't work in Phoenix, clogging up the lane and limiting Steve Nash's penetrating ability. LeBron is the king of penetrating, drawing the defense, and dishing to wide open guys on the perimeter, and Jamison is perfectly comfortable hitting shots from long range.The move works in two ways, as not only makes the Cavaliers the favorites to come out of the East this year, but gives LeBron James incentive to resign with Cleveland rather than leave as a free agent this summer.Houston Rockets, ALast season, the Houston Rockets were built around a veteran core of Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Ron Artest and were mildly successful. Nobody would have thought that they would get better after losing all three.The Rockets were able to dump McGrady on the Knicks, who had only played three games for the Rockets this season before he was banished from the team. In return, Houston basically got a player with a similar skill set as McGrady who is four years younger in Kevin Martin.Beyond getting Martin, Houston also got promising rookie Jordan Hill, an athletic forward who was stuck on the Knicks bench, Jared Jefferies, an athletic shot blocker who, at 6'11", can guard anyone from shooting guards to centers, forward Hilton Armstrong, who is nothing more than a throw-in, and two future draft picks.The Rockets did have to give up Carl Landry, who was having a career year but has struggled of late. Landry is only 26 and has been a pleasant surprise this season with his averages of 16 points and five rebounds per game, so it remains to be seen if the Rockets were smart by "selling high."New York Knicks, A-It's not very often that a team acquires an aging superstar who can't stay healthy, has barely played in almost an entire calender year, and was basically being paid $20 million by his last team to stay away, but that's exactly what happened when the Knicks traded for Tracey McGrady.The Knicks gave up very little to get the former superstar. Jordan Hill didn't fit into coach Mike D'Antoni's system and was stuck on the Knick's bench; Jarred Jefferies is an offensive liability on an offensive-minded team, not to mention the team needed to get rid of his contract in order to have enough cap room to pursue two "max contract" free agents during the offseason; and while it's tough to see New York part with more draft picks, it's not like they have an impeccable draft record.It's no secret that he Knicks wanted McGrady because of his expiring contract, sticking to their plan to have as much cap space as possible for this summer's free agent class. However, McGrady Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
will play for the Knicks, giving him two months to prove to the basketball world that he's still got something left in the tank. If he can, New York could conceivably sign two max-contract players, then resign McGrady even if it puts them over the cap. It's a low-risk, high-reward move on all fronts.The Knicks also got Sergio Rodriguez from Sacremento in the deal. He's a speedy, athletic point guard who could end up blossoming in D'Antoni system.So what is keeping the Knicks from getting an A+? It's the second move they made on Thursday, sending Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry to Boston for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker.Yes, Nate Robinson can not be a point guard in Mike D'antoni's system, spent a good part of the season in the coach's dog house, plays zero defense, and is prone to some poor decision making at times, but the Knicks seem to be so focused on this summer that it's almost like they forgot they are still playing this year.The Knicks have no shot at the playoffs this season, and there is very little to be happy about at MSG again this year, so why trade Nate Robinson? He's exciting to watch play, and the fans love his act. Sure, it may not fit into the future plans of Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni, but his contract is up at the end of the season anyway. Would it have killed the Knicks to give the fans a fun player to watch for the rest of the year and just part ways after the season?Oh yeah, the Knicks also traded Darko Milicic to Minnesota for Brian Cardinal, in what may be the most meaningless move ever.Portland Trailblazers, BThe Portland Trailblazers made a very solid deal by acquiring Marcus Camby from the L.A. Clippers.Camby is limited offensively, scoring most of his points on tip-ins and put-backs, but he is an athletic forward/center, who can still run the floor, rebounds, and is a terrific shot blocker.While Camby can struggle at times guarding the bigger stronger centers in the NBA, his rebounding and shot-blocking will pick up the slack, as LaMarcus Aldridge has proven to not be committed to those areas of the game.Not to mention, this deal is good insurance just in case Greg Oden continues to miss time with injuries.Amazingly, the Blazers gave up very little for Camby, who may be the only guy on the planet who wanted to stay with the Clippers.The Clippers got Travis Outlaw, who can score but refuses to play defense or within a team concept, and is a terrible rebounder for his size, and Steve Blake, who can shoot the three, doesn't turn the ball over, and does the little things as good as anyone, but he's only average defensively and is not a difference maker by any means. Sacramento Kings, BThe Kings were part of the three-team deal that landed Tracy McGrady in New York, as Sacramento landed Carl Landry, Larry Hughes, and Joey Dorsey, while sending Kevin Martin to Houston and Sergio Rodriguez to the Knicks.The Kings had to part with Kevin Martin, who after missing much of the season so far due to injury, proved that he couldn't play in the same back court as rookie Tyreke Evans, as both players need the ball in their hands to be successful, and young point guard Sergio Rodriguez, who is full of promise but expendable.In return, the Kings get Larry Hughes from New York, who had been stuck Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
on Mike D'Antoni's bench but has an expiring contract, Joey Dorsey from Houston, Larry Hughes, and Carl Landry from Houston, a young forward in the midst of a breakout season.Landry's play has been down a bit of late, but he can bang inside with the big guys of the NBA, has range, and plays solid defense. The King's front court needed help, especially since Spencer Hawes is proving to be soft, so getting Landry was a good move.Charlotte Bobcats, B-The Bobcats made a statement that they are serious about making the playoffs this year when they took a huge gamble on disappointing Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas.The Bobcats gave up bench players Acie Law, Flip Murray, and a lottery protected draft pick for Thomas, who despite being incredibly talented in all aspects of the game, has been his own worst enemies with erratic, uninspired played during his short time in Chicago.Charlotte gave up very little for a former lottery pick, so there is very little risk associated with this move. If Thomas can blossom under Larry Brown's tutelage, it will allow Gerald Wallace to play his natural position of small forward and give the Bobcats one of the most athletic front courts in the league.If Thomas continues to his poor play and decision making, he'll find himself at the end of Brown's bench in no time.Basically, the time is now for Tyrus Thomas to prove he belongs in the NBA. Under Brown, he can either end up blossoming like Allen Iverson did or failing like Stephon Marbury.Still, for an up-and-coming team like the Bobcats, this was a risk worth taking.Boston Celtics, CThe Celtics decided to keep the "Big Three" together for another title run and only made one move at the deadline with an emphasis of strengthening their bench. The move the made, however, was a bit of a head scratcher, as Boston acquired Nate Robinson from the Knicks for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker.The Celtics are a team that commits to the team concept, makes the extra pass, and plays excellent defense, while Robinson is know for making poor decisions, shoots all the time, and doesn't play defense.The Celtics also are an aging team with a lot of jump shooters, who have very few guys who can create their own shot. Robinson will bring youth, speed, can get his own shot, and attacks the rim with a vengeance.Nate Robinson makes sense on a team like the Knicks, who play no defense and have not much good going for it, but for a contender like Boston, this is a gamble, especially since the Cavs, who already was better than Boston, made a huge move. It could easily back fire, and even if Robinson can fit in, it's an average move.Milwaukee Bucks, C-The Bucks traded Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander to the Chicago Bulls for John Salmons.Salmons, who was having a disappointing season in Chicago, can shoot and plays solid defense. He's a decent replacement for injured shooting guard Michael Redd, but he takes a lot of shots and plays as if he thinks he's a better player than he actually is.The Bulls get Hakim Warrick, an athletic player with very little range who also is a turnstile on defense, and Joe Alexander, who is barely an NBA-caliber player.It's basically a trade of disappointments, with the Bulls getting slightly more quantity and the Bucks getting slightly Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
more quality.Chicago Bulls, DThe Bulls traded Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons for basically nothing in return, basically waving the white flag for the rest of this year.Yes, both players were very disappointing this year, but the Bulls did this trade deadline like they have done everything else in recent years, half-way.The Bulls partly cleaned house with these moves but were unable to get rid of Kirk Hinrich or Brad Miller.The Bulls, like every other team that stinks, are planning to make a splash during this upcoming offseason, so these moves barely matter, anyway.L.A. Clippers, DThe Clippers got three guys that are barely even six men in the NBA in Steve Blake, Drew Gooden, and Travis Outlaw.Drew Gooden was apart of the trade that sent Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. The Clippers sent Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland and received Gooden from the Wizards immediately after he was acquired from the Mavericks.It remaians to be seen if Gooden will play in LA or if he'll be bought out, and losing Telfair is no big deal.The Clippers also traded Marcus Camby to Portland for Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw.How the Clippers could trade Camby, who openly campaigned to stay with the team for so little is a joke of a move by a snake-bitten franchise.Washington Wizards, DThis team has been one of the most disappointing squads in the league the past couple of years, and once Gilbert Arenas's bone-headedness sabotaged the Wizards season, the team had no choice but to scrap it's plans and rebuild.It's completely understandable that the Wizards felt the need to trade former All-Star Antawn Jamison, but to trade him to a conference rival for absolutely nothing is ridiculous.The only bright spot of the Wizards trade is the fact they got Cleveland's first-round pick this year, but since the Cavs are one of the best teams in the NBA, it's going to be a late first round pick.How Washington could not demand J.J. Hickson, like the other teams the Cavs were trying to deal with is inexcusable.Miami Heat, FThe Miami Heat made it no Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
secret that they were trying to add another player to complement Dwayne Wade in an effort to persuade D-Wade from leaving via free agency during the offseason. Miami even went as far as to offer anyone on the squad other than Wade to Phoenix for Amare Stoudamire.Nothing worked, as no teams wanted any of the heat's players, not even youngsters Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley.It was a huge swing-and-a-miss for the Miami Heat and their fans, as Wade remains the only bright spot on the team.Sorry Miami, enjoy D-Wade while you still have him.